Acacia arabica

Acacia arabica (Lam.) Willd.

Local name: Babul 

English Name: Acacia 

Family:  Leguminosae  

Habitat: Acacia arabica is commonly found in dry forest areas. It is commonly found in India particularly in Punjab, Rajasthan and Southern states of India.

Plant Description: The bark is dark either brownish or greyish with longitudinal cleavages. The branches are simple, spiked. Spikes are white, sharp and 0.5 to 2 inch long. There are two spikes below the petiole of the leaf. There is 10 to 12 pair of leaflets of 1/8 to 1/4 inch long. The uppermost and lowermost leaflets have small glands at the roots. Yellow flowers of 1/2 inch diameter are sweet and fragrant. Flowering occurs in August to September. It is 3 to 6 inch long, 1/2 inch wide. There are 8 to 12 seeds in the flat legume. The legume is constricted in between seeds. Fruition period is from January to April. 

Plant parts used: Leaves, Seeds, Bark, Gum

Chemical constituents:

Acacia gum contains chiefly arabin which is the mixture of calcium, magnesium and potassium salts of arabic acid. On hydrolysis arabic acid yields L-rhamnophyranose, galactopyranose, L-arabofuranose and the aldobionic acid 6- -d-glucuronosido-d-galactose. Further hydrolysis yields L-arabinose, D-galactose, d-glucuronic acid and rhamnose. The gum also possesses enzymes like oxidases, peroxidases and pectinases.

Medicinal and Traditional Uses:

Used in the treatment of diarrhea of ordinary intensity. The gum used either in decoction or in syrup, is an effective medicine for diarrhea. Bark is useful in the treatment of eczema. Chewing of fresh bark of babul tree daily, helps strengthen loose teeth and arrest any bleeding from the gums. Leaves of are effective in the treatment of conjunctivitis. Leaves of babul are also beneficial in treating epiphora (Watering of the eyes). A decoction of the babul bark, mixed with rock salt, should be used as a gargle in treating tonsillitis.